Ithilien was the only part of Gondor on the eastern side of the [[Anduin]], wedged in between the river and the [[Ephel Dúath]]. Its southern border was the river [[Poros]]. The region was further divided into North and South Ithilien.

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Ithilien was the only part of Gondor on the eastern side of the [[Anduin]], wedged in between the river and the [[Ephel Dúath]]. The northern border must have been around the [[Dead Marshes]] and its southern border was the river [[Poros]]. The region was further divided into [[North Ithilien|North]] and [[South Ithilien]].

[[Iris]]es, [[Anemones]], [[Eglantine]], [[lilies]], [[water-lilies]] and [[Asphodel]] grew in Ithilien<ref>{{TT|Herbs}}</ref>. [[Lebethron]]<ref>{{TT|journey}}</ref> and [[Culumalda]] grew especially in the woods around the [[Field of Cormallen]].<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 625-6 (citing from the [[Unfinished index]])</ref><ref name=SApp>{{S|Appendix}} (entry for ''mal-'')</ref>

[[Iris]]es, [[Anemones]], [[Eglantine]], [[lilies]], [[water-lilies]] and [[Asphodel]] grew in Ithilien<ref>{{TT|Herbs}}</ref>. [[Lebethron]]<ref>{{TT|journey}}</ref> and [[Culumalda]] grew especially in the woods around the [[Field of Cormallen]].<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, pp. 625-6 (citing from the [[Unfinished index]])</ref><ref name=SApp>{{S|Appendix}} (entry for ''mal-'')</ref>

History

Old records preserved in Gondor indicate that the name Arnen was once used for the larger part of the region during the Second Age.[2]

When Elendil and his sons founded the Realms in Exile, Ithilien took its name after his son, Isildur. Of old its chief city was Minas Ithil, the Tower of the Moon. It was briefly captured by Sauron in S.A.3429 but was restored. Ithilien was a fair and prosperous land during the Second Age and the first part of the Third Age, when Gondor was strong and Mordor deserted.

Amon Dîn was used as a fortified outpost of Minas Tirith keeping watch over the passage into North Ithilien from Dagorlad and any attempt by enemies to cross the Anduin near Cair Andros.[4][5] The Tower of Cirith Ungol was also defending Ithilien from attacks from Sauron's remaining servants and stopped them from returning to Mordor, guarding the high pass over the Ephel Dúath. Gondor occupied the fortress until T.A.1636 when the Great Plague killed large parts of the population. During the plague most of the people of Osgiliath fled the city for the western dales or the woods of Ithilien.

After the disastrous Battle of the Plains in T.A.1856, Ithilien was the only land east of the river Anduin to be occupied as the others were abandoned.

In T.A.1944, Wainriders from Rhûn made an alliance with the Haradrim, and a dual attack on Ithilien was launched. While the Wainriders assaulted Ithilien from the north, the armies of the Haradrim crossed the Poros and invaded South Ithilien. The Gondorian CaptainEärnil leading Gondor's inferior Southern Army, defeated the Haradrim, and then turned north, took the Wainriders into surprise and pushed many of them into the swamplands of the Dead Marshes.

When Minas Ithil was captured by Mordor in T.A.2002 it was renamed Minas Morgul, the Tower of Black Sorcery. During the Watchful Peace the lords of Morgul had secretly bred the Uruk-hai, and in T.A.2475 these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien, captured Osgiliath and destroyed the great stone-bridge.

Deserting

Boromir defeated the host of Morgul and regained Ithilien. However, from that time on no people dwelt in that region, and for Gondor there was never full peace again until after the defeat of Sauron.[6]

When the Host of the West marched on the Morannon, Mablung and his troops discovered an ambush by Orcs and Easterlings that lay hid in Ithilien. The ambush was quickly turned.[8]

During the Fourth Age, Ithilien was ruled by the Princes of Ithilien, a line that started with Faramir and Éowyn, who became known as the White Lady of Ithilien. Minas Morgul was not repopulated, and Faramir had his throne in Emyn Arnen. After the fall of Sauron, Legolas brought elves from Greenwood, and they dwelt in Ithilien, and once again it became the fairest country in all the westlands.[9]

Geography

Ithilien was the only part of Gondor on the eastern side of the Anduin, wedged in between the river and the Ephel Dúath. The northern border must have been around the Dead Marshes and its southern border was the river Poros. The region was further divided into North and South Ithilien.